Socio-Religious Movements: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Socio-Religious Movements (Modern History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2025Modern History · Socio-Religious Movements
Q1. Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy: I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East. II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement I is correct: Raja Ram Mohan Roy deeply respected the philosophical core of Indian traditions, especially Vedanta, and focused on monotheism, rational inquiry, and spiritual unity. His approach was reformist; he wanted to purify Indian philosophy rather than reject it. Roy’s efforts reflect a synthesis of Eastern spiritual wisdom and Western rational thought.
Statement II is correct: Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an ardent advocate of rationalism, scientific temper, and humanism. He actively campaigned against sati and promoted women’s rights and education. His ideals were shaped by a belief in human dignity, social equality, and freedom of thought, inspired by Enlightenment values and Christian humanitarianism. He was a key figure in the Bengal Renaissance, encouraging Indians to embrace modernity while retaining ethical values
UPSC 2025Modern History · Socio-Religious Movements
Q2. Who among the following was the founder of the ‘Self-Respect Movement?
Explanation
The Self-Respect Movement was founded by E. V.
Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, in 1925 in Tamil Nadu. The movement aimed to promote:
Rationalism Equality Annihilation of caste Upliftment of the oppressed sections, especially the non-Brahmin communities in South India. It challenged the social inequalities of the caste system, advocated for women’s rights, and encouraged people to question religious superstitions and blind beliefs. Periyar became a central figure in Tamil social reform and political activism through this movement.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2025
(c) Both I and II
2
2025
(a) Periyar’ E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Socio-Religious Movements?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Socio-Religious Movements (Modern History), asked from 2001 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Socio-Religious Movements?
Questions on Socio-Religious Movements (Modern History) are available for 5 years, from 2001 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
